Miss Judy Charters
Captain Judy Helmey
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!"
124 Palmetto Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31410
912 897 4921 or 912 897 3460 fax
http://www.missjudycharters.com/
February 12, 2007
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Freshies Suggestion!
"Crappy Happy" Part One
Our fresh water specialist Anthony has once again shared much needed information to which I am going to pass on to you. This is some real good fish catching information! This report is about "Crappy." During this time of the year Anthony fishes a lot at night. He has a theory, which is backed up by many accomplished catching nights. According to his report 30 minutes before dark until about 3 hours after dark is the best time to catch "crappy." He has several methods in which he uses to get their attention.
Anthony most favorite is the cork, split shot, and small hook design. The reason being is that this rig is a "two for one catching style." You can use it to basically float your bait into the bite zone or you can troll with it. The best bait to use "no matter," which method you choose is going to be small creek minnows. This bait is hardy and gets a great crappy bite a-going. With that being said, "now you know that crappy love to eat something that's alive and well.
Inshore Fishing Report
Red Fish Mania!
Captain Jack McGowan has a great week while fishing for red fish this past week. This is one of those reports that are worth entering into your logbook. And it goes something like this:
As I said earlier it was a red fish catching day. I am going to get out of the way up front what they caught. There were a total of 8 over sized red fish caught meaning over 23 inches in lenght. To that catch they also landed 10 more that fit right in the slot limit, which is 14 to 23 inches. All red fish were released healthy, which is a good thing, with the exception of two fish. These two fish went toward the making of a great fish supper! Now you know what they caught, which is important. However, now we will get to the where, why, and which bait they preferred.
With the water temperature around 48 degrees spotted sea trout kind of get put in the "winter hibernation mode." A few trout were caught. The main bait used for this trip was mud minnows. In fact Captain Jack called them "red fish candy for the day!" He suspended this bait 12 to 15 inches under traditional float rigs and popping corks. All fish were caught in about 3 to 4 feet of water while fishing in the sound area. The high tide stage took place around 11:00 AM, which meant the current wouldn't get started really moving till after noon. These times could vary a bit. When the tide fell to the "trigger stage" where the red fish were forced to evacuate the marsh area schools of red fish took to the next feeding point. These areas are mud flats and sand bars normally adjacent to some sort of structure such as oyster rakes. The fishermen quietly watched as the schools of red fish made their way to the next re-fueling station.
This fish that were kept were full of snails, crabs, and their mud minnows. The red fish fed heavily while holding in the marsh area, but still put on the fed bag as soon as they reached the outer limits. It's my opinion that the "reds" knew that their next feeding wouldn't be for a while. After the mud flats all red fish had to find some sort of "safe haven" or they would become part of the "porpoise feeding chain."
As I have always reported red fish are what I call "pushers of the water." Once you see a school of red fish on the surface you will understand why I have fitted them with this name. Another thing that's is important to remember is that especially during this clear water time and when they are high up on the porpoise's menu these fish are "noise shy." So therefore the least un-natural noise made the better. My take is even though the fish were full of crabs and snails they still had the need to eat all that they could before heading out to deeper waters.
There is a way to ascertain whether or not you have picked an area that is holding red fish in the grass. You might need your binoculars for this one. When the tide floods into the marsh, red fish make their way to what they call "the feeding grounds." In some cases these areas aren't accessible to you, because you can't get in such shallow water with your hull design. Don't worry; I am getting to my point. This is the time where you might see them "tailing," meaning when they "root in the marsh" their tails go up. Watch for the waving tails and un-natural movement of the grass tops, because this is a sign that red fish are feeding. Another way to be sure is to look for snails. In other words a "snail watching" you will go. Snails are high up on a red fish's list of great thing to eat while visiting the grass. Even though they are just snails when this feeding bonanza takes place, their will to survive this attack takes over. They simply move up high on the marsh grass stalks. One snail might be hard to find, but when a group of them travel up it's an amazing sight to behold. The fact of the matter is it's almost unbelievable. This all boils down to the fact that when the "snails are in their temporary tree houses" you know you have arrived at the right place!
My Uncle Ed is a Fish Story Teller!
My uncle Ed Zipperer is an amazing fisherman and golfer. The fact of the matter is that it's his life at least in this day and time. I spent the evening with him the other night and he shared a wonderful fish catching story with me. Not only will you get a kick out of this fish story, but it will also offer you yet another chance to make some great notes in your 2007 Tide Logbook.
Log Book Entries!
Before I get started with the story I am going to share with you my reasoning in regards to suggesting that you made an entry in your logbook. Every story that I tell has a time frame attached to it such as this one and the one before it. Making notes of "what was caught when" is going to be of a great benefit to you later or sooner than you think. Let me explain. Take the red fish report that Captain Jack just shared with us. From the report you know that the fish bite was best on the out going tide, which took place in the middle of the day. Make an entry in your logbook on Wednesday February 7, 2007 noting that the bite was good during this time. After looking at the tides you will notice that the fishing was probably good also good on February 5, 6, 8, and 9, 2007. Once you get to Saturday February 10, 2007 from the tide stages outgoing is late meaning you won't get that straight up from the sun event. However, the bite should switch from out going to incoming till about Tuesday February 13, 2007. After this you get the opportunity for an outgoing bite in the AM and an incoming in the afternoon. If the day picked is sunny your chances for the red fish bite are going to be good.
The temperature during this time frame was around 48 degrees. If it stays at this temperature red fish will be good and the trout bite will be slow in shallow water. If you happen to get a low tide in the middle of the day with a warming trend the trout might move a bit, but normally only if the water temperature reaches above the fifties. Before I close the trout bite had only been slow in the shallower water events. The deep holes have been holding some hungry trout. Fish deep!!!
Uncle Ed's "Twenty year Plus Fishing Event"
My Uncle Ed, Troy Buoy, his sons, and friends have for over 20 plus years made this fishing trip. They all get together and go to Troy's house over in South Carolina that's located on the May River. This is an inshore fishing event that is talked about "longer than it lasts." The groups always stays about three days while fishing for spotted sea trout, flounder, and red fish, having great suppers, which almost always lead the tallest fish tales ever! However, after this tale you might understand why their "fish Tales" get bigger every time this event takes place! According to my Uncle Ed this was the best catch that they had seen in over twenty years plus! It started like this:
Being the fishermen that they are the elders always pick the day this event starts. According to Uncle Ed they normally fish the first week in November that has a good tide stage. The picking out date usually falls right behind a full moon stage.
The Red Legs!
Normally when there is a full moon stage the current resident shrimp have developed what is called the "red legs.' This is term used in regards to shrimp, which certainly fits. During the course of the month shrimp in their estuaries grow hardily for a month. During this time frame of 30 days or so the shrimp are the smallest right after the full moon making them the largest right before. Once the shrimp run their cycle, which means growing during this time frame, they develop actual "red legs." This indication tells us that the shrimp are going migrate to the sounds. It's my take that during this time while the larger shrimp are making their way to the sounds that it would be a great time to fish. The reason being is that the bulk of the supposedly in-house shrimp are migrating leaving behind only the small fries left. If I were a fish I would be hungry at this time, because what's available is going to be small, harder to find, and less filling on top of that!
Looking at my 2006 logbook during the month of November it indicated due to the moon phase that around November 8, 9, 10, and 11 should have been great days to fish. The group while using live bait fished this time frame with great catching success. Their fish day started on Thursday November 9, 2006. This group is from the "old school," which means "fishing actually constitutes catching!" They used the old time traditional trout fishing technique, which is using a float design that's adjustable. They fished docks that look fishy and the deep creek bed around them. The group of 11 fished for three days and caught approximately 600 fish with most of them being spotted sea trout. Most of the trout caught were all over the legal limit of 13 inches. However, a unanimous decision earlier agreeing to keep only spotted sea trout over 14 inches in length was made. Some trout caught made it to the over 24-inch length. Their by-catch for three days of fishing was to say the least very unusual. They caught two stingrays, one red fish, two small flounder, and a couple of whiting. According to the report they caught most fish while using live shrimp as bait. Eleven fishermen used 20 quarts of live shrimp for three days of fishing. Some of the fish did hit artificial baits. A couple of fishermen used light spinning rods with ¼ ounce jigs with screw tails. They bite wasn't as solid while using the artificial stuff. The prefect and most desired bait was "live shrimp."
Most all fish were found holding in the creek bed in around 20 feet of water. Uncle Ed remarked, "There were a lot of fishermen outside of his group "pitching the bank." He really couldn't report on their catches since he was so busy with his own. It has been said my many fishermen that 90% of the red fish are caught in 3 to 4 feet of water. Most spotted sea trout are caught within 7 foot or less. I believe that these records are accurate to a degree especially for those fishermen that have fish in the "thirty year era!" However, for those like my Uncle Ed and my father that fall into that "fifty year era plus" fish what is known as the "old zone!" During this time 90% of the fish were caught between 15 to 20 feet of water. There is a lot be said about statistics. Here's one for you. Before the invention of the popping corks fisherman knew and remembered that their floats were adjustable. After the invention of the popping corks (un-adjustable) some fishermen went 100% with them, because they never fish any water depth over 7 feet.
Uncle Ed, Troy Buoy, and a few others that fell into that "fifty years plus era" has such a great time while fishing day one and two that they sat on the hill the last day. It wasn't because they were tired it was because the "elders" wanted to give the "youngers" a chance to catch up! Thanks Uncle Ed for sharing this wonderful story!!!
Spotted sea trout reported catches during the year of 2006 reached a so-called unbelievable "record high!" According to most reports received and our own catches 2006 was a true catching record breaker. It was the best spotted sea trout catching event in over 15 years!
Captain Ray Crawley of Miss Judy Charters
Braided main lines and Fluorocarbon leaders needed
Braided main line work exceptionally well when practicing free styling or working lures. When you planning on fishing around any sort of structure I suggest going with this type of line. This line offers a little better control when it comes to hooking up a larger fish when structure is present. Bridges and dock piling are great places to, because they hold the interest of those larger structure holding fish. You need to tie line to line a 15 to 18 inch fluorocarbon leader first then your lure. It has been my experience as well as many others that baits don't show well when tied directly to braided line. However, every time I make a statement like that in comes a fisherman with a different point of view!
Captain Ray Crawley of Miss Judy Charters looks at braided leaders as a must when fishing for red fish. Captain Ray's main braided line is around 14 pound test. He always adds about 18 inches of 40-pound test braided leader to his main line. According to him this ensures a better opportunity for landing once hooked up. He also suggests that when targeting specifically red fish while using this type of leader that you go with bait that is dark in color. In other words in this case "light is out and dark is in!" According to Captain Ray the ghostly color of white "spooks red fish."
When you think about it there definitely is so much "sight when it comes to light" especially during this time. The waters are so clear during the cooler months putting all that's out there in the term of food on the "chopping block!" This braided leader along with a dark colored artificial weed less rigged bait is going to be a hit when pulled in the grass. After all the dark, especially when it's backgrounded by dark is going to look very natural and enticing!
"Fishing Naked!"
(No leaders needed)
It's very simple when going with this style of fishing. Firstly and lastly there is only one step! All you have to do is to tie your hook directly on the main line. I prefer to use 4 o 8-pound test monofilament main lines. The primary goal when giving this style of fishing a try is that you are letting the bait do all of the work. In other words, once you hook up your bait, cast into the area, and let it do all of the moving. Believe me if there is a fish within sight or hearing distance you will get a hit! Another good thing about this style of fishing is the bait used is always going to try to get where it's going to be safe, which is just about where the larger fish are going to be staging! After a hit, hookup, and landing you need to always pull your line through your fingers to check for "nicks." Your main line isn't normally too abrasion resistance. Any direct contact from a fish's teeth to structure will "nick" your line, which means your next potential hook up doesn't stand a chance in the retrieval department!
Captain Jack is Just a Drifter, but he does it so well!
Captain Jack McGowan is one of those charter boat captain that's not afraid to "step outside of the box!" For those of you that do fish inshore you know how important it is to have structure in regards to getting your best shot at catching a fish. Structure comes in many forms from oyster rakes to submerged trees. The bottom line to this situation is that you need something that provides what a fish wants, which is protection and food. Well, that's your lesson today on this subject.
Over the years Captain Jack has gotten pretty savvy in regards to reading the water. Not all water is the same, because some holds fish while some doesn't. Drift fishing is the simplest form of fishing that there is. Anyone can do it with catching results. However, when you want to fish where the fish are "you have to be able to look for fish signs." In Captain Jack's case he had done his homework on this one. He looks an area over, decides if it looks fishy, and then he fishes, which normally results in a catching event. He trusts his theories!
Just Plain Old Bank Drift Fishing
This is exactly what you think it is. It's turning off the engine, putting your bait offerings on the bottom, and letting the current move you down the banks. This type of fishing offers a lot of catching possibilities. You need to use tackle that can be pulled over the bottom that doesn't get hung up too much. Trolling sinkers are great and weed less hook designs are the first thing that come to mind. Some fishermen like to go with the sinker first and then the hooks. This rig type is sometimes called "Carolina Rig," Your only problem with this rig is that if you don't go weed-less you are going to be hung-up and hook-less! There another good rig to use and it's kind of the reverse of the Carolina rig. The sinker is on the bottom of the rig and the hook is above it on an arm that is simple to make. This type rig allows your sinker to drag on the bottom and your baited hook to flow with the currents. The bottom line to this situation is that you get to cover a lot of water, which means your chances for a hook up is better. There's better news. When you do get a hook up it will be up to you on whether or not you stay or just keep drifting! Whatever you do please make note of where, when, and how you caught that fish while "just-a-drifting!
Captain Jack offers up yet another suggestion in regards to just-a-drifting. Once you find fish, don't try to re-situate the boat so as to make you cast easier. Since you normally drift fish when fishing is slow any un-natural noise is going to change the bite pattern. Captain Jack's suggests to quietly anchor as soon as you can and then make you cast to the area where you got the hits. Let assume that you have anchored and the fish have stopped biting. Give it at least 30 minutes before just-going-a-drifting again!
Offshore
I already know that I am getting ahead of myself, but lets face it; the good news is that "spring is coming!" With that being said, this puts me in the mood to write about top water fish. The top water fish that usually arrives first is going to be what is known as "the little tunny." First, I am going to give you my rendition of the likes of this fish. As I said, "first to arrive, meaning the others masters of the upper water column aren't far behind!"
They are easy to identify, because they come in the shape of a tuna fish. Not only that, but they actually are part of the tuna family. There are three species of small tuna that are normally found off our coast. They are called "bonito," but there are three that we could possibly deal with. There's the little tunny, the skipjack, and the Atlantic bonito. The "little tunny" is mostly the type that we get in our area. The little tunny has wavy lines on top, the Atlantic bonito has straight lines on top, and the skipjack has straight lines on the bottom. I must add that the little tunny has those distinctive black spots on each side below the petrel fins.
Over the years, I'm not going to lie about it, but I have chased a many of these non-conforming fish. The fact of the matter is that they are in one spot one moment and then the next show up ½ mile from you. I have noticed over the years that birds helps a lot in regards to locating the school. According to what I have seen and what the old fish finder shows me there are many more feeding under than there are those feeding on the surface.
They are fast feeders pushing their bait of choice to their "maximum range of movement."
Once you have found your fish your next move should be to watch the birds, because your best information is going to come from those feathered friends. It's best to watch the bird's movement. Normally the birds will follow the school of fish fanatically. The fact of the matter is that it seems they get so involved that make the same exact moves above as the fish do down under. At this point two things come to mind. The first thing that leads me to believe is that the so-called leader calls all of the shots, which mean they most likely attack as an entire school and rarely break their pattern. The second is when the birds are following in the same form up above this can kind of give you a heads up to whether the fish down under is actually feeding. If the birds are feeding it obvious that the fish are also! I know all of observation sound like a lot, but this all can be preformed in a matter of minutes.
Lets assume that you have figured out that the fish are feeding sporadically, meaning eating, moving, and surfacing. If you watch you might be able to develop their feeding pattern. Believe me it's not as hard to do as you think. Just watching for a few minutes and you will come to a conclusion. Here is a list of options for best baits in regards to the fish that you are chasing.
My first plan of attack is normally my old stand by, which normally doesn't work. However, if there is any Spanish mackerel mixed into the school this rig that I am going to desired with get their attention. It's simple. I am pulling #3 planer. I attach the brass ring to the main line, which I am using a snap swivel. (Tied on to the main line) This makes for easy planner hook up and release when finished. I always attached a 100-pound snap swivel to the back of my planer before I tie my leader material on. I then tie my leader material directly on to the snap located on the back of the planer. I normally pull a leader that is about 15 feet long to which I tie my lure of choice directly on.
Leader material is made from YO-ZURI H D CARBON. This leader material is prefect for this job, because it works great when the "stealth mode" is needed! For Spanish mackerel I am using 20-pound test leaders. However, when talking about the hard pulling little tunny it might be time to step up your size used a bit. I suggest going with at least 30-pound test.
For my 20-pound leader set up I always go with an OO-RBMS 2 inch 2/0 hook or O-RBMS 21/2-inch 2/0 hook Clark Spoon. I am not going to sit her and tell you that this is my best lure for catching little tunny because it's not! However, as a by catch when targeting Spanish mackerel this lure set up works great. However, what we now need to talk about is how to catch little tunny since they are first top water fish to arrive to the near shore waters. Your opportunity starts right now, please read on!
We are now really assuming that this is the only fish to target and we definitely need to catch something. Here are some options for this playing field:
Here's one for the record books, the "bonito" fish used to be called by those that couldn't pronounce it properly "bone-eater!" Back in my blue water days when we caught a little tunny it was much appreciated due to the fact that thinly craved strips for the sides and belly make great baits. We use to take the side fillets leaving the shinny skin intact while cutting off more of the red meat. We were able to cut different patterns to adapt to the type of rigs that we were using. Once we loaded our finely crafted dragging pieces we then secured it with light gauge wire or a piece of nylon string. Remember back in my day there was a question that none of us asked and we had a good reason. The question was not where do you find them, but "what the heck is a ballyhoo?"
In the old days we used a lead head type jig with feathers on it. The jig probably was around 2 to 3 ounces. My father rigged it with a single 6/0 to 7/0 hook and then ran what he called a "trailer" behind it. The trailer was an extra strong 4/0 to 6/0 treble hook. Also known as "terrible hooks!" At any rate, a trolling we would go with this rig in tow. The funny thing about all of this is that we actually caught a lot of these fish right offshore of Tybee Island.
My father had his favorite colors, which were red and white and as well as I can remember I believe "pure yellow." At least that what he called it! The lead head or large jig heads came in several sizes with Daddy preferring the heavier ones. At any rate, these lures were a hit back in the old days! We just trolled them behind the boat around and around the schools of fish until we got a hook up, which were quite often. Back in the old days I don't remember wondering why, much less when the fish were going to hit our bait offerings, because they always did! So therefore the best bait for yesteryear was feather jigs!
Times are a little different in regards to different methods used to get the little tunny to your hook. Casting comes to mind first. Back the old days we never made many casts for surface feeding fish! My father did use a spinning rod outfit on, which he caught many silver king fish, but that once again is another story yet to be told.
Tuna, no matter what type, are built for speed and have lots of strength onboard. Just this leads to the fact that when feeding they are going to do so fast, when chased the same is going to be the case. As I mentioned before schools of these fish will be in one area, dive, disappear, and then re-appear as little as 100 feet to as much as ½ mile away from where they were originally viewed. My father always used to say, "When a school of fish makes these kind of moves they are either chasing or being chased!" When the little tunny are acting like this "catching by trolling" is unlikely to happen. So therefore casting from afar might be the ticket to this fish ride! As far as what to cast it could be as simple as a piece of fish, to a weighted jig with some sort of tail, to live bait, or an artificial sinking plug. I suggest throwing what you have until you make some sort of contact! Another thing to keep in mind when picking out the best bait for the job is to use one that is as close to what they are feeding on at the time.
There is one more thing that I would like to add to the already lengthy way to get you best chance at hooking up a little tunny. Pick out 4 of your surface pulled rigged pushing lures. In other words, those that make some sort of water noise, such splashing or pushing action, and pull them around at about 12 to 15 knots. (You cannot do this with the planers that I talked about earlier. It's best to pull them anywhere from 4 to 7 knots.) The bottom line to this sort of action might just get you the attention that you are looking for! Fishing for little tunny represents fishing close for the most! In other words, "the land that you just left can be seen right over your shoulder!"
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
Carolina Rig in Georgia
Here's one for you, back in the old day it was thought that the sinker should never come before the hooks. The reasoning for this was it was thought by most fishermen that you "didn't want a sinker in between you and the fish!" Had someone never tried this style of fishing the "Carolina Rig" would have needed been invented!
My father used this type of bottom rig that was pre-made with heavy leader, which came with it's own set of metal arms. To the arms you were to attach short pieces of line to which you were to tie your hook. I just remember it being hard to tie the leader on to the provided in-line arms. However, they did work, because we always caught fish. On the bottom of the rig was a "clothes pin type" that you were to put the sinker on of your choice. The rigs came packaged and stapled on a big piece of cardboard. The reason I know this for a fact was that daddy always brought them by the board!
As far as bait the only thing that I remember in this regards was local caught small squid and believe it or not, but shrimp also. We also cut some of the fish up and used them as bait. The fish back in the good old days weren't such "picky eaters" as they are this day and time! I certainly do hope that the fish haven't started to read my fishing reports!
Here's My Line Now Bite My Hook!
Captain Judy
"Fishing Physic!"